Improvement in bungs for barrels



UNIT D STATES PATENT GFFIGE.

-GEORGE H. GILLETTE, OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM H. STEWART, OF BROOKLYN N.-Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUNGS FOR BARRELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,550, dated February 25, 1879; application filed November 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GILLETTE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bungs for Gasks and other vessels, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the parts of the bung as they stand in actual use in a cask or barrel.

A represents my elastic bung, with central aperture, inclosin g G, which represents the plug inserted within the elastic bun g.

X represents a section of the cask or barrel in which the bung is inserted in use.

Fig. 2 is a view of the bung, and Fig. 3 a view of the plug.

I prefer, in making my improved bung, rubber composition, such as is commonly used in making brewers hose. Care should be taken to exclude from the rubber or composition any alkalies, and to use such composition of rubber as will not be affected by acids.

Of the above material I make an elastic bung, as shown by A, having lateral or horizontal plane surfaces, and a vertical or tapering circumferential surface, something like a cork, and being of any convenient depth and of such diameter as to fit closely when in use within the usual aperture in casks for the insertion of bungs, and having a vertical aperture through it of such size as to admit the plug 0, which is generally of the size of an average playing-marble.

The plug 0 may be made of any wood, rubber, metal, mineral, paper, or of equivalent materials, though I prefer metallic compositions employed in mechanical uses. It is made round, or of any convenient shape, and is about five-eighths of an inch in diameter, closely littin g within the bottom part of the aperture of the elastic bung.

This plug may be so shaped as to have a hook or eye connected with it, by which to connect it with the bung, which, in such case, also has an eye.

In'practically using my improved bung, I first insert the plug 0 into and part way up the aperture of the elastic bung A, and then drive the bung, containing the plug, inserted as above, completely within the aperture of the cask.

By the increasing of the compression of the elastic bung the plug is held more tightly within the grasp of the bung, and the entire bung is made absolutely tight, so that no leakage can occur, and the cask is ready for transportation.

WVhen the cask or vessel is to be used, I drive the plug in any convenient manner down and out of the elastic bung into the interior of the cask, leaving a vent, which vent may remain till the cask is emptied.

WVhen the cask is emptied the elastic bung A is withdrawn from the barrel by a hook extending down through the central aperture of the bung, and reaching underneath it, or by any other convenient device, and. the plug is taken from the barrel in any convenient way.

After refilling the cask the same plug is inserted again in the same elastic bung, and the bung, with the inserted plug, is driven in again, as before. This process is repeated indefinitely as long as the cask is required to be filled, emptied, and refilled.

The advantages of my invention are readiness, convenience, cleanliness, and economy. These advantages are conspicuous in the use of casks or vessels forthe transportation of fluids and beverages, such as ale, cider, lagerbeer, 85o.

My improved bung, with its plug, is practically indestructible, and is capable of repeated use during the life of the cask or vessel, and even outlasting a single cask, the same bung being used over and over again. Greater cleanliness is also obtained, the bung and plug not absorbing the fluid contents.

The ordinary wooden bungs and the improved patent wooden bung with perforations last but for a single use, and are clumsy and uncleanly, and their use leads to great waste.

While I prefer for. use the materials above named, and the construction and arrangement of them as above described, 1 do not limit myself to them in the practice of my invention.

I may use any substance whatever that is elastic for my improved bung, and make them of any desired shape for insertion.

I may also make my plug for insertion in the bung of any desired material, 0r of any convenient pattern, care being taken to use materials not likely to be afl'ected by acids.

I may insert my hung, with plug, in any practicable way Within the aperture of the cask by screwing in, driving in, or other equivalent manner.

Having thus described my invention aforesaid, I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentaperture running vertically through it, in combination with a plug fitted in the aperture, and adapted to be driven down and out of the bung and into the barrel, as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE H. GILLETTE. Witnesses:

" A. ROBINSON,

C. B. RIDGWAY. 

